Guiding apparatus and guiding method

ABSTRACT

A guidance apparatus comprises: an operation section configured to receive an operation from a user; a first detection section configured to detect a user in front of the operation section; a confirmation processing section configured to confirm the existence of a user operating the operation section according to the detection result of the first detection section; a determination processing section configured to determine whether or not the operation section receives an operation from the user within a certain period of time after the confirmation processing section confirms the existence of the user; and a guidance information output section configured to output guidance information for guiding the user in operating the operation section if the determination processing section determines that the operation section receives no operation from the user.

FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate to a guiding apparatus and a guidingmethod.

BACKGROUND

A power supply control device (Japanese Patent Application No.JP2012-114499) is well known which is used to switch the action mode ofa processing apparatus such as a copier or a fax machine when a userapproaches the processing apparatus. If a user approaching theprocessing apparatus is detected when the processing apparatus runs in apower-saving mode in which the power consumption of the processingapparatus is suppressed, then the power control device switches theaction mode of the processing apparatus from the power-saving mode to acommon mode (a mode in which power saving is released). The powercontrol device is capable of effectively reducing the power consumptionof the processing apparatus.

However, a user who does not know how to use the processing apparatusneeds to consult an operation manual or other people about the usemethod of the processing apparatus, which is troublesome.

In view of this problem, the present invention is intended to provide aguiding apparatus and a guiding method for improving the operationability of a user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an MFP (a guiding apparatus) involvedin an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the structure of the MFP shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the detection of a userapproaching an operation panel through a first and a second detectionsection;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the structure of the basic data fileshown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the structure of the guidance data fileshown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the structure of the error code fileshown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a first guidance processing carriedout by an MFP; and

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a second guidance processing carriedout by an MFP.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to an embodiment, a guiding apparatus comprises: an operationsection configured to receive an operation from a user; a firstdetection section configured to detect a user in front of the operationsection; a confirmation processing section configured to confirm theexistence of a user operating the operation section according to thedetection result of the first detection section; a determinationprocessing section configured to determine whether or not the operationsection receives an operation from the user within a certain period oftime after the confirmation processing section confirms the existence ofthe user; and a guidance information output section configured to outputguidance information for guiding the user in operating the operationsection if the determination processing section determines that theoperation section receives no operation from the user.

With the use of the guiding apparatus disclosed herein, the operationability of a user can be improved.

The guiding apparatus and the guiding method involved in embodiments ofthe present invention are described below with reference to accompanyingdrawings. An example of a guiding apparatus applied to a Multi-FunctionPrinter (MFP) is described in embodiments of the present invention. TheMFP is an all-in-one device which integrates the functions of a copier,a printer, an image scanner, a fax machine and the like.

As shown in FIG. 1, an MFP 1 is equipped with an operation panel 16.After determining that the operation panel 16 is not operated by a userin front of the operation panel 16 within a certain period of time, theMFP 1 outputs guidance information for guiding the user in operating theoperation panel 16.

Further, after an internal abnormality is detected, the MFP 1 notifiesthe user of the unit (e.g. manual tray MT) which should be operated tohandle the abnormality. After determining that the notified unit is notoperated by the user in front of the notified unit within a period oftime, the MFP 1 outputs guidance information for guiding the user inoperating the notified unit.

The structure of the MFP 1 shown in FIG. 1 is described with referenceto FIG. 2.

The MFP 1 comprises a control section 11, a memory section 12, a firstdetection section 13, a second detection section 14, a third detectionsection 15, an operation panel 16, a unit operation section 17, an imageforming section IF, an image reading section IS, a Local Area Network(LAN) communication section C1 and a fax machine communication sectionC2.

Each of the first detection section 13, the second detection section 14and the third detection section 15 consists of a reflector-typephotoelectric sensor or an ultrasonic sensor. The first detectionsection 13, the second detection section 14 and the third detectionsection 15 are all used to detect the existence of an object (person),and the detection ranges of the first detection section 13, the seconddetection section 14 and the third detection section 15 are, forexample, 0-0.8 m.

As shown in FIG. 1, the first detection section 13 is arranged on theoperation panel 16. As shown in FIG. 3, the first detection section 13detects a user in front of the operation panel 16.

Two second detection sections 14 are arranged on two sides of the frontside of the MFP 1. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the detectiondirection of the second detection section 14 is switched between a firstdetection direction and a second detection direction to detect a usermoving around the operation panel 16. The first detection direction is adirection facing the side opposite to the position where the operationpanel 16 is arranged. The second detection direction is a directionwhich faces the operation panel 16 when compared with the firstdetection direction. In this way, the second detection section 14detects a user moving around the operation panel 16.

As shown in FIG. 1, to handle an abnormality occurring in the MFP 1, thethird detection section 15 is arranged on the unit (e.g. manual tray MT)which should be operated. The third detection section 15 detects a userin front of the unit which should be operated.

The operation panel 16 is provided with a display device such as aliquid crystal display, an operation device for receiving an operationfrom a user, for example, a button or a switch, and a loudspeaker foroutputting sound. Further, the operation panel 16 consisting of thedisplay device and the operation device is partially made up of a touchpanel. The operation panel 16 receives various kinds of information fromthe control section 11 and outputs the received information on a screenor using the loudspeaker. Further, the operation panel 16 sends anoperation signal corresponding to an operation of a user to the controlsection 11.

The unit operation section 17 refers to each operation section of theMFP 1 that is operated according to a requirement of the user.Specifically, in addition to the manual tray MT shown in FIG. 1, theunit operation section 17 further includes a sheet feeding tray sectionin which a printing medium is accommodated, a sheet discharging traysection for discharging the printing medium and a front cover sectionfor operating the image forming section IF. Further, the unit operationsection 17 sends an operation signal corresponding to an operation ofthe user to the control section 11. In this way, the control section 11(the undermentioned determination processing section 11 b) determineswhether or not to operate the unit operation section 17.

The image forming section IF is an image forming apparatus for formingand printing an image on a printing medium. Specifically, the imageforming section IF comprises:

image forming station for four colors (yellow, magenta, cyan and black)which are arranged to form an image on a printing medium; a fixingportion configured to fix the image formed by the image forming stationson the printing medium; and a conveyance portion configured to conveythe printing medium the image on which is fixed by the fixing portion tothe sheet discharging tray section.

The image reading section IS is an image reading apparatus for readingthe image on the printing medium. Specifically, the image readingsection IS comprises: a scanning portion which moves on the printingmedium (original document) while irradiating the printing medium(original document) and an image pickup component such as a ChargeCoupled Device (CCD) for converting the light (image) obtained by thescanning portion from the printing medium into an electric signal.

The LAN communication section C1 consists of an LAN communicationinterface device. The LAN communication section C1 communicates withother communication devices (e.g. computer and mobile phone) via an LAN.

The fax machine communication section C2 consists of a telephone networkcommunication interface device. The fax machine communication section C2communicates with other communication devices (e.g. fax machines) via atelephone network.

The memory section 12 consists of a memory device such as a Hard DiskDrive (HDD), a Read Only Memory (ROM) or a flash memory. Further, thememory section 12 is characterized in storing a control program 12 a, abasic data file 12 b, a guidance data file 12 c and an error code file12 d.

The control program 12 a is a program for causing the control section 11to execute a guidance processing which will be described later.

The basic data file 12 b is the aggregate of the data output to theoperation panel 16 (hereinafter referred to as basic data). As shown inFIG. 4, the basic data file 12 b includes basic data in each record. Thebasic data includes a data ID for identifying basic data and basicinformation output by the operation panel 16. Specifically, the basicinformation includes information for setting the functions (e.g. copy,scan and fax) executed by the MFP 1 and information for setting detailsof the executed functions. Further, the basic information includesinformation representing the unit (e.g. manual tray MT) which should beoperated to handle an abnormality.

The guidance data file 12 c is the aggregate of the data for providingguidance for the user (hereinafter referred to as guidance data). Asshown in FIG. 5, the guidance data file 12 c includes guidance data ineach record. The guidance data has a data ID for identifying basic data,guidance information, a detection section ID and an operation sectionID. The guidance information is output to the operation panel 16. Theguidance information is information for providing guidance for the useraiming at the basic information corresponding to a data ID.Specifically, the guidance information includes detailed information,for example, the content or operation steps, of basic information. Thedetection section ID is used to identity a detection section. Theoperation section ID is used to identity an operation section.

The error code file 12 d is the aggregate of the data for identifying anerror which may occur in the MFP 1. As shown in FIG. 6, the error codefile 12 d includes, in each record, an error code for identifying anerror, the content of an error and a data ID for identifying basic data.

The control section 11 comprises a Central Processing Unit (CPU), aRandom Access Memory functioning as the main memory of the CPU, a timerand so on. The control section 11 controls the whole MFP 1.

Once started, the control section 11 of the MFP 1 executes the controlprogram 12 a stored in the memory section 12. In this way, the controlsection 11 functions as a confirmation processing section 11 a, adetermination processing section 11 b, a guidance information outputsection 11 c, an execution processing section 11 d, an abnormalitydetection section 11 e, a unit notifying section 11 f and an abnormalityhandling section 11 g.

The MFP 1 with the foregoing structure concurrently executes thefollowing two guidance processing:

(1) a first guidance processing for guiding the user in using theoperation panel 16;

(2) a second guidance processing for guiding the user in handling anabnormality in the MFP 1.

The first guidance processing (Act S10) is described first withreference to FIG. 7.

As shown in FIG. 3, the confirmation processing section 11 a sets thedetection directions of the second detection sections 14 on two sides ofthe front side of the MFP 1 to be ‘first detection direction’ (ActS101). The confirmation processing section 11 a determines whether ornot a user is detected by the second detection sections 14 the detectiondirections of which are set to be ‘first detection direction’ (ActS102). The confirmation processing section 11 a is kept standby until auser is detected (Act S102: No). Further, when running in a power-savingmode (a mode in which power consumption is suppressed), the MFP 1supplies power for the second detection sections 14 but cuts off thepower supply for the other sections (e.g. the first detection section13, the third detection section 15, the operation panel 16, the unitoperation section 17, the image forming section IF and the image readingsection IS.)

After determining that a user is detected by either of the seconddetection sections 14 (Act S102: Yes), the confirmation processingsection 11 a switches the detection direction of the second detectionsection 14 by which the user is detected to ‘second detection direction’(Act S103). The confirmation processing section 11 a determines whetheror not a user is detected by the second detection section 14 thedetection direction of which is switched to ‘second detection direction’within a given period of time (e.g. within three seconds). Further, whenrunning in the power-saving mode, the MFP 1 may also cut off the powersupply for the second detection section 14 by which no user is detected.

After determining that no user is detected by the second detectionsection 14 the detection direction of which is switched to ‘seconddetection direction’ (Act S104: No), the confirmation processing section11 a returns to execute processing in Act S101. That is, in this case,it is determined that no user approaches the operation panel 16 (MFP 1)in the first detection direction, thus, no operation guidance isprovided for a user.

On the other hand, if it is determined in Act S104 that a user isdetected by the second detection section 14 (Act S104: Yes), then theconfirmation processing section 11 a determines whether or not a user iskept detected by the first detection section 13 for a given period oftime (e.g. 5 seconds) following the foregoing certain period of time(e.g. 3 seconds). Further, when the MFP 1 runs in the power-saving mode,the confirmation processing section 11 a supplies power for the firstdetection section 13. Moreover, the confirmation processing section 11 amay cut off the power supply for the second detection section 14.

After determining that no user is not kept detected by the firstdetection section 13 for the given period of time following theforegoing certain period of time (Act S105: No), the confirmationprocessing section 11 a returns to execute the processing in Act S101.That is, in this case, it is determined that the user in the seconddetection direction passes the operation panel 16 (MFP 1), thus, nooperation guidance is provided for a user.

On the other hand, if it is determined in Act S105 that a user isdetected by the first detection section 13 (Act S105: Yes), then theconfirmation processing section 11 a confirms the existence of the userin front of the operation panel 16. That is, in this case, it isdetermined that there is a user approaching the operation panel 16, andthe guidance processing is continued for the user.

After the existence of the user is confirmed by the confirmationprocessing section 11 a, the determination processing section 11 boutputs the original basic information (herein referred to as ‘basicinformation a1’) stored in the basic data file 12 b of the memorysection 12 to the operation panel 16. Then, a screen representing itemsfor setting the functions (e.g. copy, scan and fax) executed by the MFP1 is output on the operation panel 16. Further, if the MFP 1 runs in thepower-saving mode, the determination processing section 11 b switchesthe power-saving mode to a common mode to supply power for the otherunits (e.g. the third detection section 15, the operation panel 16, theunit operation section 17, the image forming section IF and the imagereading section IS.)

In this case, a user familiar with the operation of the MFP 1 canoperate the MFP 1 based on the basic information output to the operationpanel 16, but a user not familiar with the operation of the MFP 1 mayneed some time for study before operating the MFP 1 or even cannotoperate the MFP 1.

The determination processing section 11 b determines whether or not theoperation panel 16 is operated within a given period of time (e.g. 15seconds) (Act S107), Act S109 is executed after the determinationprocessing section 11 b determines that the operation panel 16 isoperated (Act S107: Yes). That is, in this case, it is deemed that theuser operating the operation panel 16 is familiar with the operation ofMFP 1, thus, no operation guidance is provided for the user.

On the other hand, if the determination processing section 11 bdetermines that the operation panel 16 is not operated (Act S107: No),the guidance information output section 11 c outputs the guidanceinformation (‘guidance information’ a1) which is stored in the guidancedata file 12 c of the memory section 12 corresponding to the basicinformation (‘basic information a1’) output to the operation panel 16 tothe operation panel 16 (Act S108). Then, the content or detaileddescription on the operation steps (function description, the positionsof buttons for selecting the functions and operation methods) of thefunctions (e.g. copy, scan and fax) executed by the MFP 1 is output tothe operation panel 16 by displaying the detailed description on theoperation panel 16 or by using a loudspeaker.

If the determination processing section 11 b determines that theoperation panel 16 is operated in Act S107 (Act S107: Yes), or after ActS108 is executed, the execution processing section 11 d accepts anoperation of setting the processing to be executed by the MFP 1. Theuser sets the details of the function to be executed through theoperation panel 16 and caries out an operation to execute the setprocessing (an operation of selecting a ‘start’ button). The executionprocessing section 11 d executes the set processing according to theoperation (Act S109). Then, the execution processing section 11 d waitsin a standby state until the operation panel 16 is operated, if theoperation panel 16 is not operated within a certain period of time, thenthe action mode is switched to the power-saving mode, and the flowreturns to Act S101.

Then, the series of actions of the first guidance processing is ended.

Next, the second guidance processing is described with reference to FIG.8.

The abnormality detection section 11 e keeps standby until an error codeis obtained (Act S201: No).

The abnormality detection section 11 e detects an abnormality when anerror code is acquired by the image forming section IF, the imagereading section IS or the unit operation section 17 (Act S201: Yes). Atthis time, the unit notifying section 11 f outputs basic information tothe operation panel 16 to notify the user of the unit which should beoperated. For example, when the abnormality detection section 11 eacquires ‘error code E1’, the unit notifying section 11 f extracts, fromthe error code file 12 d stored in the memory section 12, a data ID(‘output b1’) corresponding to the error code. Next, the unit notifyingsection 11 f extracts, from the basic data file 12 b stored in thememory section 12, basic information (‘basic information b1’)corresponding to the extracted data ID and outputs the extractedinformation to the operation panel 16. Then, the unit (e.g. manual trayMT) which should be operated to handle the abnormality in the imageforming section IF is notified on the operation panel 16 by displayingthe unit on the operation panel 16 or by using a loudspeaker.

Sequentially, the determination processing section 11 b determineswhether or not there is a user in front of the unit which should beoperated (Act S203). Specifically, for example, when a data ID (‘outputb1’) is extracted by the unit notifying section 11 f, the determinationprocessing section 11 b extracts, from the guidance data file 12 cstored in the memory section 12, a detection section ID (‘detectionsection 15’) corresponding to the extracted data ID. The determinationprocessing section 11 b determines whether or not there is a user infront of the unit which should be operated according to whether or not auser is detected by the third detection section 15 corresponding to theextracted detection ID.

The determination processing section 11 b determines that there is auser in front of the unit which should be operated (Act S203: Yes) if auser is detected by the third detection section 15. In this case, thedetermination processing section 11 b determines whether or not anoperation is carried out within a given period of time (e.g. 8 seconds)(Act S204).

Here, if the user is familiar with the use of the MFP 1, then the userstarts to operate the notified unit (here, manual tray MT) to handle theabnormality, if the user is not familiar with the use of the MFP 1, thenthe user needs some time for study before operating the unit or evencannot operate the unit.

The unit operation section 17 provided with the notified unit (here,manual tray MT) sends an operation signal corresponding to the operationof the user to the determination processing section 11 b. Afterreceiving the operation signal, the determination processing section 11b determines that the notified unit is operated (Act S204: Yes). Then,the determination processing section 11 b executes processing in ActS209. That is, in this case, it is deemed that the user is familiar withthe use of the MFP 1, thus, no operation guidance is provided for theuser.

On the other hand, if the determination processing section 11 bdetermines that the operation panel 16 is not operated in Act S204 (ActS204: No), the guidance information output section 11 c outputs theguidance information (‘guidance information’ b1) which is stored in theguidance data file 12 c of the memory section 12 corresponding to thebasic information (‘basic information b1’) output to the operation panel16 to the operation panel 16 (Act S205). In this way, the content of anerror, a method for operating the notified unit (manual tray MT) anddetailed description on handling steps are output to the operation panel16 by displaying the content on the operation panel 16 or by using aloudspeaker.

If the determination processing section 11 b determines that theoperation panel 16 is operated in Act S204 (Act S204: Yes), or after ActS205 is executed, the abnormality handling processing unit 11 g receivesan abnormality handling operation of the user. The user handles theabnormality through the notified unit. Then, the abnormality detectionsection 11 e carries out the same processing when acquiring an errorcode again. On the other hand, the abnormality detection section 11 ereturns to execute Act S201 if no error code is acquired.

Then, the series of actions of the second guidance processing is ended.

According to the MFP 1 involved in the embodiment, guidance informationfor guiding a user in front of an operation panel 16 in operating theoperator panel 16 is output if it is determined that the operation panel16 is not operated by the user in front of the operation panel 16 withina certain period of time. Thus, even a user not familiar with theoperation of the MFP 1 can easily operate the MFP 1. Further, accordingto the MFP 1, the unit which should be operated to handle an abnormalityin the MFP 1 is notified after the abnormality in the MFP 1 is detected,and after it is determined that the unit is not operated by the user infront of the unit within a certain period of time, guidance informationis output to guide the user in handling the abnormality, thus, even auser not familiar with the operation of the MFP 1 can easily handle theabnormality. In this way, the MFP 1 improves the operation ability ofthe user.

Further, in the foregoing embodiments, for the sake of convenience indescription, an example of a piece of guidance information outputcorresponding to a piece of basic information is described. The guidanceinformation is merely exemplary. For example, in the executionprocessing shown in Act S109, the execution processing section 11 dsuccessively outputs the basic information selected according to theoperation of the user to the operation panel 16, in this case, whetheror not the operation panel 16 is operated within a given period of timeis determined, and if the operation panel 16 is operated within thegiven period of time, guidance information corresponding to the basicinformation output to the operation panel 16 may also be output.

Further, in the foregoing embodiments, when the unit (e.g. manual trayMT) is notified which should be operated to handle an abnormality, thethird detection section 15 detects a user in front of the unit. However,the third detection section 15 may also function as the first detectionsection, and the unit operation section 17 may function as the operationpanel 16 described in the foregoing embodiments. That is, in this case,the confirmation processing section 11 a confirms, according to thedetection result of the third detection section 15, that there is a useroperating the unit operation section 17. Further, the determinationprocessing section 11 b determines whether or not the unit operationsection 17 receives an operation from the user within a given period oftime after the confirmation processing section 11 a confirms theexistence of the user. Moreover, if the determination processing section11 b determines that no operation is received by the unit operationsection 17 from the user, the guidance information output section 11 coutputs guidance information for guiding the user in handling theabnormality.

Further, the MFP 1 may also determine the posture of the user accordingto the result of the detection section and determine the operationsection used by the user according to the determined posture. Forexample, detection sections 13 are separately arranged for a pluralityof operation sections (operation panel 16 and unit operation section 17)in the height direction. In this case, the detection direction of thedetection section 13 arranged on the operation panel 16 is set to faceup obliquely, and that of the detection section 13 arranged on a sheetfeed tray is set to face down obliquely. In this way, if a user isdetected by detection sections 13 of the operation panel 16 and thesheet feed tray, then it can be determined that the posture of the useris a standing posture and that the operation section used by the user isthe operation panel 16. On the other hand, if the detection section 13of the sheet feed tray carries out a detection operation while that ofthe operation panel 16 carries out no detection operation, then it canbe determined that the posture of the user is a squat posture and thatthe operation section used by the user is the sheet feed tray. In thisway, the MFP 1 can determine the posture of a user according to thedetection results of a plurality of detection sections 13 arranged inthe height direction and determine the operation section used by theuser according to the determined posture. Moreover, in this case, if thedetermined operation section is not operated within a given period oftime, then the MFP 1 outputs guidance information for guiding the userin operating the operation section.

Further, after the MFP 1 executes the set processing (after the MFP 1executes Act S109 shown in FIG. 7) and determines the departure of theuser from the operation panel 16, the mode of the MFP 1 is switched fromthe action mode to the power-saving mode. The departure of the user fromthe operation panel 16 can be determined through a process reverse tothe process of determining the existence of a user in front of theoperation panel 16. That is, after it is determined that no user isdetected by the first detection section 13, the second detection section14 is set to detect a user first in the second detection direction andthen in the first detection direction, and the departure of the userfrom the operation panel 16 can be determined when a user is detected ineither of the detection directions.

Further, in the foregoing embodiments, although an example of theapplication of a guiding apparatus to an MFP is described, the guidingapparatus may be applied to any one of a copier, a printer, an imagescanner and a fax machine or a combination thereof. Further, the guidingapparatus can also be applied to various apparatuses which need to beoperated by the user.

The present invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiments oraccompanying drawings, and the foregoing embodiments or accompanyingdrawings can be properly modified.

1. An operation guiding apparatus, comprising: a processor; and a memorythat stores executable instructions that, when executed by theprocessor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising: anoperation section that receives an operation from a user; a firstdetection section detects a user in front of the operation section; aconfirmation processing section that confirms, according to thedetection result of the first detection section, the existence of a useroperating the operation section; a determination processing section thatdetermines whether or not the operation section receives an operationfrom the user within a first predetermined time after the confirmationprocessing section determines the existence of the user; and a guidanceinformation output section that outputs guidance information for guidingthe user in operating the operation section if the determinationprocessing section determines that no operation is received from theuser.
 2. The operation guiding apparatus according to claim 1, whereinafter the confirmation processing section confirms the existence of theuser, the determination processing section outputs basic information anddetermines that no operation is received from the user if no operationis carried out within the first predetermined time based on the basicinformation; and the guidance information output section outputs theguidance information corresponding to the basic information if thedetermination processing section determines that no operation is carriedout based on the basic information.
 3. The operation guiding apparatusaccording to claim 2, further comprising: a second detection sectionthat detects a user moving around the operation section, wherein afterthe user is detected by the second detection section, if the user iskept detected by the first detection section for a second predeterminedtime, then the confirmation processing section confirms the user as auser operating the operation section.
 4. The operation guiding apparatusaccording to claim 3, wherein the second detection section detects auser moving around the operation section in a first detection directionwhich faces the side opposite to the position of the operation sectionand in a second detection direction which faces the operation sectionwhen compared with the first detection direction; after the user isdetected by the second detection section in the first and the seconddetection direction and kept detected by the first detection section forthe second predetermined time, then the confirmation processing sectionconfirms the user as a user operating the operation section.
 5. Theoperation guiding apparatus according to claim 1, comprising: anabnormality detection section that detect an abnormality; a unitnotifying section that notifies notify the user of the unit which shouldbe operated to handle the detected abnormality; and a third detectionsection that detects a user in front of the unit which should beoperated, wherein after the unit notifying section notifies the user ofthe unit which should be operated, the determination processing sectiondetermines whether or not the unit which should be operated is operatedwithin a third predetermined time after the third detection sectiondetects the user in front of the unit which should be operated; and theguidance information output section outputs guidance information forguiding the user in operating the unit which should be operated if thedetermination processing section determines that the unit which shouldbe operated is not operated.
 6. An operation guiding method, comprising:a confirmation action in which a confirmation section confirms theexistence of a user operating an operation section; a determinationprocessing action in which a determination processing section determineswhether or not the operation section receives an operation from the userwithin a first predetermined time after the confirmation unit confirmsthe existence of the user; and a guidance information output action inwhich a guidance information output section outputs guidance informationfor guiding the user in operating the operation section if it isdetermined in the determination processing action that no operation isreceived from the user.
 7. The operation guiding method according toclaim 6, wherein in the determination processing action, after theconfirmation processing section confirms the existence of the user, thedetermination processing section outputs basic information anddetermines that no operation is received from the user if no operationis carried out within the first predetermined time based on the basicinformation; and in the guidance information output action, the guidanceinformation output section outputs the guidance informationcorresponding to the basic information if the determination processingsection determines that no operation is carried out based on the basicinformation.
 8. The operation guiding method according to claim 7,further comprising: a first detection action in which a first detectionsection detects a user in front of the operation section, and a seconddetection action in which a second detection section detects a usermoving around the operation section, wherein in the confirmation action,after the user is detected by the second detection section, if the useris kept detected by a first detection section for a second predeterminedtime, then the confirmation processing section confirms the user as auser operating the operation section.
 9. The operation guiding methodaccording to claim 8, wherein in the second detection action, the seconddetection section detects a user moving around the operation section ina first detection direction which faces the side opposite to theposition of the operation section and in a second detection directionwhich faces the operation section when compared with the first detectiondirection; in the confirmation action, if the user is detected by thesecond detection section in the first and the second detection directionand kept detected by the first detection section for the secondpredetermined time, then the confirmation processing section confirmsthe user as a user operating the operation section.
 10. The operationguiding method according to claim 6, further comprising: an abnormalitydetection action in which an abnormality detection section detects anabnormality, a unit notifying action in which a unit notifying sectionnotifies the user of the unit which should be operated to handle theabnormality detected by the abnormality detection, and a third detectionaction in which a third detection section detects a user in front of theunit which should be operated, wherein in the determination processingaction, after the unit notifying section notifies the user of the unitwhich should be operated, the determination processing sectiondetermines whether or not the unit which should be operated is operatedwithin a third predetermined time after the third detection sectiondetects the user in front of the unit which should be operated; and inthe guidance information output action, the guidance information outputsection outputs guidance information for guiding the user in operatingthe unit which should be operated if the determination processingsection determines that the unit which should be operated is notoperated.
 11. The operation guiding apparatus according to claim 4,wherein after the second detection section detects the user in the firstdetection direction, the confirmation processing section switches thedetection direction of the second detection section to the seconddetection direction.
 12. The operation guiding apparatus according toclaim 4, wherein the first detection section and the second detectionsection are arranged on surfaces which are a same direction as a surfaceon which is arranged the operation section, and the second detectiondirection of the second detection section is directed to a front of theoperation section.
 13. The operation guiding apparatus according toclaim 3, wherein the first detection section is arranged in a vicinityof the operation section compared with the second detection section. 14.The operation guiding apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the thirddetection section is arranged on a surface different from a surface onwhich the first detection section is arranged.
 15. The operation guidingmethod according to claim 9, wherein in the second detection action,after the second detection section detects the user in the firstdetection direction, the confirmation processing section switches thedetection direction of the second detection section to the seconddetection direction.